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Trials are likely but most will remain in detention: Rumsfeld
Washington, Sept 11: The United States wants to hold most of the inmates of a US prison camp in Cuba for the duration of the war on terrorism instead of trying them before military tribunals, Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld said.
Washington, Sept 11: The United States wants to hold most of the inmates of a US prison camp in Cuba for the duration of the war on terrorism instead of trying them before
military tribunals, Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld said.
The 660 or so men held at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base are imprisoned not as punishment but "to keep them from going back and fighting again and killing people," Rumsfeld said yesterday.
He said most would be held until what the United States describes as the global war on terrorism is over a fight that Rumsfeld has said could last years, if not decades. The Defence Secretary said he expects some suspects to be tried before military tribunals but prefers that most continue to be imprisoned indefinitely.
"Our interest is in not trying them and letting them out," he said in a question-and-answer session after a speech to the National Press Club. "Our interest is in during this global war on terror keeping them off the streets, and so that's what's taking place." Erwin Chemerinsky, law professor at University of Southern California, said there is no authority in American or International Law to hold these people indefinitely with no judicial process.
"It's outrageous," Chemerinsky said, "There are no signs that the war on terrorism is nearing an end, so the government is saying it can hold people indefinitely and likely for the rest of their lives without complying with the requirements of international law." Bureau Report
He said most would be held until what the United States describes as the global war on terrorism is over a fight that Rumsfeld has said could last years, if not decades. The Defence Secretary said he expects some suspects to be tried before military tribunals but prefers that most continue to be imprisoned indefinitely.
"Our interest is in not trying them and letting them out," he said in a question-and-answer session after a speech to the National Press Club. "Our interest is in during this global war on terror keeping them off the streets, and so that's what's taking place." Erwin Chemerinsky, law professor at University of Southern California, said there is no authority in American or International Law to hold these people indefinitely with no judicial process.
"It's outrageous," Chemerinsky said, "There are no signs that the war on terrorism is nearing an end, so the government is saying it can hold people indefinitely and likely for the rest of their lives without complying with the requirements of international law." Bureau Report